Obesity And Your Child. Stop The Cycle

My own personal concern with overweight children is that the children have not been taught by the school, their parents or their doctors the importance of nutrition.

Children need to be taught as soon as they go shopping with mom or dad how to pick healthy foods. Explain to them. Look at labels, tell them why you are looking at labels.

As they get older, make your child read the label of any food they would like you to buy. Help your child to be able to make a healthy choice themselves. Help them make these choices.

Teach! Teach! Teach!

Go to classes, read books and watch videos on nutrition. You do not need to go overboard,but, become aware of what you eat. Become aware of food and disease. Also, of food and health.

Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. Obesity is present when total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls (Lohman, 1987)

The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has risen dramatically in the past several decades. Although 25 to 30 percent of children are affected, this condition is underdiagnosed and undertreated.

The world’s largest online library has tons of books and journals on childhood obesity. Just do a search for “largest online library”

The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. I know this also applies to Canada. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat.

Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year. The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion. Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they change to a healthier lifestyle.

What is obesity?

A few extra pounds do not suggest obesity. However they can be warning signs to change to a healthier lifestyle, one that includes exercise and healthy meals and snacks… Generally, a child is not considered obese until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for the height and body type.

Obesity most commonly begins in childhood between the ages of 5 and 6, and during adolescence. Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.

This is where we must start to intervene, and teach our kids how they can change the course of their life. I have noticed that food in the schools leave far to be desired. There are vending machines full of pop and junk food. Cafeterias serve French fries, gravy, and more junk food high in fats and sugars.